When the economy took a dip downward in 2011 it gave Joseph Ortiz of Edward Jones inspiration to offer some guidance to the Ahwatukee Foothills community.

“I just noticed that people weren’t feeling too good about things,” Ortiz said. “I did a piece in the paper in August saying this is not another 2008 and that was really the kickoff to get this going.”

Ortiz started his own monthly Coffee Club meetings in December of 2011 to discuss with clients and the community in general, in a casual setting over free coffee, current events and their effects on the economy and investments.

Edward Jones offices across the nation are encouraged to do Coffee Clubs, but not every office does. Ortiz decided it was a good way to get general information out and a good way for his current clients to get to see him as well. Each month Edward Jones releases an investment perspective and Ortiz goes over that along with general questions or strategies.

“I really enjoy getting the word out to the community,” Ortiz said. “I think there’s not enough of that. I really just want to provide information to the community and current clients. I don’t anticipate a bunch of people becoming clients just from the meeting, but I do want them to get some information from us and let them decide from there.”

The Coffee Club has given the community an opportunity to ask some questions they may have and has also helped Ortiz stay current on what’s going on and the advice he is giving.

“I really enjoy the prep,” he said. “To not know what people are going to ask me makes me prepare for any question. I find myself on a monthly basis really trying to find some good topics to talk about. I really enjoy trying to find some time-sensitive information each month to bring the material to life in a sense. It’s a lot of pressure because you never know what questions you’re going to get or how people will take the answers.”

The Coffee Clubs are on the third Friday of each month at the Ahwatukee Country Club, 12432 S. 48th St., at 8:30 a.m. Ortiz also plans to host a luncheon at the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce in January for people who have not been able to attend a Coffee Club meeting. For more information, call (480) 753-7664.